Walk-on role in history: Locals staff up presidential debate

Grabbing their part of history in the making, the Gootenberg family of Boca Raton doesn't mind taking care of the details of the security detail at Monday's debate.

Nothing, they say, could be more thrilling — even if part of the deal means Lloyd, 60, Michele, 53, Katie, 22, and Rachel, 16, will be locked down at Lynn University until the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

This isn't just an unpaid gig — it's a priceless opportunity to get in on history.

"I've never seen such heated feelings on both sides — it's going to be one of the most famous debates, and, to be there in whatever capacity I could be there, I find so fascinating," said Michele Gootenberg, who will be leaving her commercial real estate job early to be stationed at the debate's media parking lot.

For the two men vying for the Oval Office, Boca Raton is the last stop that beckons them both before decision day. And city residents couldn't be prouder to be at the epicenter of the political world.

"It's incredible," said Mayor Susan Whelchel, who joked that she was going to sign up for classes at Lynn University so she could finagle a ticket to see the political wrangling live.

If there ever was an invasion of famous faces here, this is it. Twitter has been blowing up with Boca Raton references, including tweets from people who bring joy to political junkies. From 6 to 9 a.m. Monday, for example, people can get their "Morning Joe" — Joe Scarborough's MSNBC talk show — live Monday at Racks Downtown Eatery and Tavern in Mizner Park, along with NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell and others.

Contributing to the Boca's fame — and keeping everything flowing perfectly for those 90 minutes that the world's eyes are on it -- prompted local business leaders to come forward with sponsorships to help Lynn University defray the $4.9 million cost of hosting the event. Boca restaurants are going to be providing the food for the 20 corporate suites outside the debate hall for the corporate sponsors. But it's not going to be all VIP treatment for people on site, said Rosemary Staltare, director of marketing and sales for the Red Restaurant Group.

"During the debate you can't even use the bathroom," she said, referring to the tight security.

Staffing the proceedings drew 772 local residents into a lottery, from which the debate's 453 volunteers were pulled. They'll get the privilege of checking press credentials, ushering people around, securing the parking lot, registering attendants and just doing the running around so that thousands of people can converge on one small spot without a hitch.

The debate was a natural draw for the Gootenbergs, who gather around the TV for the national news at 6:30 every weeknight.

"Sometimes I think it was torture for [my daughters]," Lloyd Gootenberg, a local property manager.

His younger daughter, Rachel Gootenberg, a junior at Spanish River High School, confirmed that: "I'm not into news."

Still, she's the only one among her friends with a T-shirt that designates her as an "official host" who has been through a Secret Service background check. Plus, she's getting the next day off from school.

In contrast, her sister, Katie Gootenberg, 22, newly graduated from Florida Atlantic University, will spend late nights debating political points with her father. And sometimes, she said, she finds herself frustrated at the lack of interest among her friends.

"I want to tell them, 'Don't you realize that these things have implications in your life?'" she said, naming women's issues and the economy as her chief concerns. "Nothing drives me crazy like people who complain about what's going on but they don't make any effort to be involved."

The Gootenbergs would have liked to be in the position to lay eyes on the rivals vying for the White House, but Lloyd and Michele Gootenberg said they are excited to see familiar faces among the media hordes that will descend on the debate.

"To be one step away is almost as good," the family's patriarch said, adding that he's particularly thrilled that this debate will bring in media from the world over. "Hopefully, this will show them how the whole world looks at our election."

His wife said she thinks that even her younger daughter will be telling her children where she was for the final debate in the 2012 presidential election.

"No matter what your views might be, it's so great that they are coming to our small, little city and we're going to take advantage of it," she said.